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Learn how to make apple dump cake in your crockpot for the easiest dessert ever! With just 6 ingredients this recipe uses fresh apples (not pie filling) and tastes so much better than any other recipe!
This is the BEST Apple Dump Cake ever it uses fresh apples and cake mix! Have you ever heard of a dump cake? It’s a super easy dessert where you “dump” all of your ingredients into a pan and bake it. In this case, you just have to dump everything in your crockpot. It’s one of the easiest desserts ever. Peach dump cake, Cherry Dump Cake, Blueberry Dump Cake, Pumpkin Dump Cake: There are a thousand ways to make one of these cakes and I’ve made them all.
What sets this recipe apart from all the rest: I use fresh apples to make the filling from scratch instead of using a can of pie filling. It’s a small extra step that makes the cobbler taste a million times better and is worth the effort!
6 Ingredient Apple Dump Cake
- Apples: I like Granny Smith apples best, the tart with the sweet. They are also sturdy enough they don’t get mushy in the crockpot. I usually use five to seven apples for this recipe.
- Granulated or Brown Sugar sweetens the filling and, of course, cinnamon is required in any apple recipe.
- Yellow Cake Mix: This is the magic of a dump cake! You can also use spice cake mix if you want.
- Quick oats or old-fashioned oats make this more of a crumble than just a cake.
- The butter melts as the cake cooks, baking into thke cake mix and creating that crumbly top.
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Dorothy’s Testing Notes
- First rule of crockpots is that all crockpots are different! Depending on your model this cake may take more or less time. Also note where your slow cooker may cook hotter. Mine does on one side, so I often have to rotate the insert so it doesn’t burn there.
- The first time you make this, I recommend checking on the cake after 1 ½ hours of cooking time just in case your slow cooker runs hot.
- I use an apple peeler tool that makes peeling and coring the apples really easy. But, you can also do it by hand: use a vegetable peeler to remove the skin then slice the apples.
- You can tell when the cake is done when all the butter is melted and the cake mix doesn’t look like powder. The top of the cake should be golden brown.
- Don’t skip the paper towel between the lid and the insert – this catches condensation so your cake isn’t wet.
Crockpot Apple Dump Cake Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 5-7 Granny Smith Apples
- ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon, divided
- 1 approx 15 ounce box yellow cake mix
- ½ cup (43g) quick cooking oats
- ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, , sliced thin
Instructions
- Peel, core, and slice your apples. I used 7 because mine were small. If you’re using large, you can use less. Apples should be thin and bite sized.
- Spray crockpot with cooking spray.
- Place apples in the bottom of your crockpot. Sprinkle with sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon.
- Place the cake mix in a large bowl. Add the oats and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Stir, then sprinkle over the top of the apples. Drop slices of the butter over the top of the cake mix.
- Cover the crockpot with a paper towel then place the lid on. Cook on high for 4 hours. I recommend checking the cake after an hour and a half and then again each 30 minutes to make sure it's cooking evenly and doesn't burn. All crockpots cook differently so this is important. If it's too hot on one side, roate the liner.
- Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.
Notes
- Use a spice cake mix in place of yellow cake
- Skip cooking the apples – use canned apple pie filling (or homemade) – you’ll need 2 cans of apple pie filling.
- Add a sprinkle of chopped pecans or walnuts on top the apples under the cake mix.
- Make this in the oven – simply dump it all into a baking dish instead of the slow cooker. Bake at 350°F for about 35-45 minutes.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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How to Make Apple Dump Cake
- Make sure to slice the apples all the same size. This is the key to having apples that are cooked perfectly (not some that are mushy and some that aren’t cooked through).
- The cake mix powder should totally cover the apples.
- The butter should cover the cake mix with only small bits of cake mix showing through, ensuring it will melt all over the top.
- The cake will be golden brown when done.
Other Apple + Crockpot Favorites
- Apple Crumble Bars are the perfect apple pie in bar form.
- Crockpot Brownie Pudding was my first ever (and most favorite) slow cooker dessert.
- Crumb Apple Pie is my famous pie that started this blog!
- Or try Apple Dumplings with crescent rolls.
What size crockpot did you use?
That one is a 7 quart crockpot
Did not peel my apples. Used 3 Granny Smith, 2 Honey Crisp & 1 Fuji. Topped 1/3 with chopped Pecans. Added extra teaspoon Vietnamese cinnamon on bottom & on top. 4 hours on high. Delicious!
Thank you for the recipe idea!
Thanks for the variation ideas! Glad you like the recipe, thanks Dawna.
Do you make the cake mix according to the box or use JUST the cake mix powder? Thank you!
Hi Lisa, just use the cake mix powder. Enjoy!
Thank you so much! Looking forward to trying this!
Loved Apple picking in the Midwest! If you are looking for a similar experience not too far from San Diego you should go to Oakglen…Julian is second.
Have fun!
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